Method and apparatus for stitching a succession of fabric workpieces



Feb, 24, 19%

R. KOSROW ET L 3,495,891 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR swncmue A SUCCESSION OF FABRIC WORKPIECES Filed March 4, 1968 11 Sheets-Sheet l LO &

g N INVENTOR'S J K" ROBERT L. KDSROUJ '58 6n ARTHUR u. HALE ATToss R. KOSROW ET AL 3,495,8'1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION 0F FABRIC WORKPIECES 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1968 INVENTORS Ro'sem LMUSRUUJ GnQRTHUR HHRLE Feb.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSIOI? Filed March 4, 1968 R. L. KOSROW ET AL OF FABRIC WORKPIECES ll Sheets-Sheet 3 ROBERT L. KosRouu (r ARTHUR NHALE.

R. L. KOSROW ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUGCESSION Feb 24, 1970 OF FABRIC WORKPIECES l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4, 1968 INVENTORS ROBERT L. KOSROLU 6:- QRTHUR NHDL'E R. L. KOSROW E METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION OF FABRIC WORKPIECES l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1968 Fl MFINVENTORS ROBERT L.KOSROU) @AlZTl-IUR N. HALE T'TORE F. 24, 1970 os ow ETAL 3,496,891

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION OF FABRIC WORKPIECES Filed March 4:, 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS ROBERT wosrzow 7 6m ARTHUR HHHUE L; KOSROW ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION OF FABRIC WORKPIECES Filed March 4, 1968 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS ROBERT L.KOSROLU?- ARTHUR N'HALE Feb, 24, 1970 R. L. KOSROW T A 3,496,891

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION OF FABRIC WORKPIECES ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 4, 1968 INVENTORS RQBERT L KOSROLU PARTHUR N HALE AORNEYS Feb. 24, 197B R. 1.. KOSROW E L 3,496,891

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION OFFABRIC WORKPIECES Filed March 4, 1968 11 SheetswSheet 10 54 42 51 203 in 44 e 65 INVENTORS ROBERT L. KOSROLU & ARTHUR H. HALE Feb. 24, 1970 R. L. KOSROW ET l. 3,496,391

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STITCHING A SUCCESSION 0F FABRIC WORKPIECES Filed March 4. 1968 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS ROBERT L. KOSRUW 'n ARTHUR NHRLE Unite US. Cl. 1122 60 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a method of stitching a continuous series of workpieces including the conveying of such workpieces along a conveyor and the stitching of such workpieces by a sewing machine. The sewing machine is moved along the conveyor in the direction of feed thereof and, during this movement, the speed of conveyance is increased above the speed of movement of the sewing machine such that workpieces may be loaded onto the conveyor at a rate in excess of the feed rate of the sewing machine. Upon termination of the movement of the s'ewing machine in the direction of feed of the conveyor, the sewing machine is returned along the conveyor in the opposite direction while the conveyor is maintained immovable.

Correct feeding of workpieces into a stitching zone of a sewing machine is assured through the brushing of workpieces toward one side of a conveyor and limiting the extension of such workpieces toward that side such that the edges of the workpieces are, at all times, correctly disposed in relation to the stitching zone of the sewing machine.

Apparatus for effecting the stitching of workpieces as set forth hereinabove is disclosed and such apparatus includes a conveyor, a movably mounted sewing machine, motive sources for driving the conveyor, operating the sewing machine and moving such sewing machine, apparatus interconnecting the sewing machine and the conveyor to assure the achievement of the desired relative speed therebetween and control means for eifecting automatic and semi-automatic operation of the conveyor and sewing machine.

Guide provisions are disclosed for correctly feeding the edges of workpieces into the stitching zone of the sewing machine and such guide provisions include an edge-guiding device and a brushing mechanism for placing workpiece edges in correct relation with the edge-guiding device.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for stitching a succession of fabric workpieces, and more particularly to methods and apparatus capable of increasing the speed at which workpieces may be fed into stitching relation with a sewing machine and for assuring the correct disposition of such workpieces with respect to the stitching zone of such sewing machine.

In the past, sewing machine and conveyor combinations have been employed wherein workpieces to be stitched have been fed along such conveyor and into the stitching zone of the sewing machine at a rate determined by the rate of movement of the conveyor. The maximum feed rate of previously known conveyors has generally been limited to the capabilities of the sewing machine employed such as are determined by the maximum feed States Patent Patented Feb. 24, 1970 rate of the sewing machine feed mechanism which is generally included in the sewing machine itself. In some applications, due to the type of workpieces to be stitched, it has been necessary to maintain the workpieces immovable while moving the sewing machine in stitching relation thereto. Here again, maximum speed has been determined by the feed mechanism included in the sewing machine inasmuch as each workpiece must be correctly disposed prior to the movement of the sewing machine therealong.

In employing the previously known methods and apparatus as set forth immediately hereinbefore, it has not been possible to continuously operate the sewing machine at a predetermined maximum rate of feed while a single operator prepares and feeds workpieces for stitching by such sewing machine. For example, where multi-layer workpieces were to be stitched, the operator would need to correctly align the several layers of the workpiece prior to the feeding thereof into the sewing apparatus and, inasmuch as the workpieces had to be continuously supplied to the sewing machine, no time was available for the preparation of such workpieces without a substantial slowing down of the rate of feed of the sewing apparatus.

Additionally, it has, in the past, been necessary for the operator of such previously known sewing apparatus to maintain close surveillance of the feeding of the workpieces into the stitching zone of the sewing machine such that the stitching proceeds along the workpiece in precisely the correct predetermined path. The stitching of multilayer workpieces along an edge thereof required such constant surveillance in order that the stitching provided should closely parallel the edge of the workpiece. The need for constant surveillance in such cases is even greater where the edge portion of the workpieces to be stitched exihibit a moderate curvature, requiring constant alignment of the workpieces with respect to the stitching zone of the sewing machine. Here again, there has been no opportunity for the operator of the sewing apparatus to prepare workpieces during the stitching of previously prepared workpieces.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a method of stitching workpieces wherein the rate of feeding workpieces for the stitching thereof may be increased while the stitching of such workpieces is maintained at a predetermined maximum speed.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide apparatus capable of effecting the immediately foregoing primary object of this invention.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of stitching a succession of workpieces including conveying the workpieces along a conveyor, stitching such workpieces through the use of a sewing machine, and moving such sewing machine in the direction of conveyance while increasing the speed of conveyance such that the workpieces continue to move relative to the'sewing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide the method set forth immediately hereina'bove including the moving of the sewing machine opposite the direction of conveyance of workpieces while maintaining the workpieces immovable such that the stitching of the workpieces is effected by the movement of the sewing machine along the stationary workpieces.

In addition, it is an object of this invention to provide sewing apparatus including a conveyor and a sewing 3 machine and provisions for moving the sewing machine in the direction of feed of the conveyor while increasing the speed of movement of such conveyor.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the type set forth immediately hereinbefore including provisions for returning the sewing machine along the conveyor while maintaining the conveyor against movement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of guiding workpieces into the stitch forming zone of a sewing machine to assure the proper stitching thereof.

Even further, it is an object of this invention to provide guiding apparatus capable of resulting in the achievement of the object of this invention set forth immediately hereinabove.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of guiding workpieces into the stitch forming zone of a sewing machine including the brushing of such workpieces at least partially laterally with respect to their path of movement and continuously limiting the lateral extension of such workpieces prior to the feeding thereof into the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide workpiece guide apparatus for use in cooperation with a sewing machine and including edge guide means for aligning the edges of workpieces with the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine and brushing means for brushing the workpieces into edge contacting relationship with the edge guide provisions.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood 'by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity, illustrating a sewing machine and conveyor system combination constructed in accordance with the invention, and shows a sewing machine movably mounted with respect to a conveyor and motive sources for operating the sewing machine, driving the conveyor and bodily moving the sewing machine.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the sewing apparatus of FIGURE 1 and shows the movable sewing machine disposed in its extreme upstream disposition to one side of the conveyor.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity, illustrating the sewing apparatus of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the left end of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 1, and shows provisions mounting the sewing machine for movement with respect to the conveyor and a first motive source interconnected with the sewing machine for movement therewith.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity, illustrating the sewing ap paratus of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the right end of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 1, and shows the lateral relationship of the sewing machine and conveyor and a second motive source for moving the sewing machine in the direction of feed of the conveyor.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the sewing apparatus of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away for clarity, and shows the sewing machine disposed in an intermediate position with respect to the conveyor, the provisions connecting the sewing machine with the motive source for the bodily movement thereof and an upper clamping conveyor for clamping workpieces to the upper run of the main conveyor.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the upper clamping conveyor, and shows one of a number of downwardly biased levers for assuring proper clamping along the length of the conveyor.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6, and more clearly illustrates the cooperation of the downwardly biased lever with the lower run of the upper clamping conveyor.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the sewing machine mounting provisions of FIGURE 1 and shows the supporting of a sewing machine mounting carriage from one of two mounting rails through the use of one of several rail engaging rollers.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8, and shows the interrelationship of the sewing machine mounting carriage, one mounting rail and one rail engaging roller.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the sewing machine mounting carriage, and shows drive provisions interconnecting the carriage with an elongate chain for providing relative movement between the elongate chain and the carriage.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 10, and shows the interrelationship of the carriage, the drive provisions and the chain.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing driving provisions suitable for positively driving the upper clamping conveyor.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the driving provisions of FIGURE 12, and shows the driving interconnections of the upper clamping conveyor and the main conveyor system.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the means for interconnecting the sewing machine with the motive source for bodily moving such sewing machine, and illustrates a driven belt and belt grasping apparatus for impartng the motion of the belt to the sewing machine mounting carriage.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIGURE 14, and shows the interconnection of the belt grasping apparatus with the sewing machine mounting carriage.

FIGURE 16 is a schematic illustration of control means for controlling the operation of the sewing apparatus and shows the first and second motive sources and a fluid operated control system operatively connected to the motive sources for controlling the various modes of operation of the sewing apparatus.

FIGURE 16a is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the control system of FIGURE 16, and shows an alternate fluid operated control system arrangement for controlling a further embodiment of the sewing machine and conveyor combination.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away for clarity, illustrating edge guide apparatus in combination with the sewing machine and conveyor combination, and shows an edge guide device and rotary brush arrangement for correctly aligning edges of workpieces with the stitching zone of the sewing machine.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the workpiece guiding arrangement shown in FIGURE 17, and shows a generally vertically upstanding edge guide member, a generally horizontally disposed stripper member and the disposition of the rotary brushing device with respect to the line of movement of the workpieces.

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the stripper member shown in FIGURE 18, and shows the mounting of a sole plate and the provision of pins on the sole plate for limiting the upward movement of workpieces passing thereunder.

FIGURE 20 is an end elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 4, illustrating a further embodiment of the sewing apparatus employing a one-way clutch connection for connecting the sewing machine movement imparting motive source to the sewing machine and carriage.

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary front elevational view 5 of the upper clamping conveyor and main conveyor, and shows the disposition of a further workpiece guiding conveyor for guiding workpieces onto the main conveyor during the loading thereof.

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 21, and shows the disposition of the additional upper clamping belt in alignment with the stitching zone of the sewing machine.

FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary end elevational view illustrating a further embodiment of the arrangement shown in FIGURES 21 and 22, and shows a single guide roller for guiding the workpieces onto the conveyor during the loading thereof.

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the lateral disposition of the guide roller of FIGURE 23 in alignment with the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, indicated generally at is sewing apparatus of the type combining a sewing machine and conveyor system for conveying workpieces past the sewing machine for the stitching thereof by the sewing machine. A frame 31 supports the sewing apparatus 30 and a table board 32 which extends along the full length of the frame 31 and approximately half way thereacross as best seen in FIGURE 2. A conveyor system indicated generally at 33 includes a main lower conveyor 39 supported upon the frame 31 and table board 32. Conveyor 39 includes a plurality of endless webs or belts 34 entrained about pulleys 35, 36 which are mounted upon a pair of shafts 37, 38, respectively. The conveyor belt supporting shafts 37, 38 are supported upon the table 32 by any suitable means such as, for example, conveyor support brackets 40. The portion of the conveyor system 33 including the endless belts 34 and the provisions for mounting such belts may conform to previously known arrangements such as, for example, the conveyor arrangement shown in United States Patent No. 3,334,729 to Robert L. Kosrow. The drive provisions applied to the foregoing conveyor arrangement however, vary substantially from previously known driving arrangements as will be set forth more clearly hereinafter. The conveyor system 33 includes an upper clamping conveyor generally indicated at 41. The upper clamping conveyor 41 includes an endless belt 42 entrained about a pair of pulleys 43 and 44 to provide a lower run 45 contiguous with the upper run of one of the endless belts or webs 34 of the main conveyor 39. The pulleys 43, 44 are mounted in a pair of yoke-like brackets 45, 46, respectively, for allowing the rotation thereof. The brackets 45, 46 are longitudinally spaced through the mounting thereof upon a beam 47 disposed longitudinally and generally parallel to the lower conveyor 39. The beam or support member 47 may be supported upon the frame 31 by any of a number of suitable mounting provisions such as, for example, by providing a pair of upwardly extending posts 48 afiixed to the upper portion of the frame 31 and having afiixed thereto a pair of transverse support brackets 49 connected to the yoke-like brackets 45, 46 to maintain the upper clamping conveyor 41 properly disposed with respect to the lower conveyor system 39. Additionally, the upper clamping conveyor 41 may be supported in a fashion similar to that shown in our co-pending United States patent application Ser. No. 646,042 entitled Conveyor Sewing Unit With Shiftable Top Feed Belt and Work Loading Arrangement.

The generally longitudinally disposed support beam 47 may be provided with a number of downwardly biased lever arms 51 for maintaining the lower run 45 of the endless belt 42 in proper clamping engagement with the upper run of the main conveyor 39 along the entire length of the clamping conveyor. One lever arm 51 is best seen in FIGURES 6 and 7 and is pivotally connected to the beam 47 as by the provision of a threaded pivot pin 52 extending through the beam 47. The lever arm 51 includes a generally horizontally disposed extension 53 from which extends a transverse biasing plate 54. A biasing spring 55 extends from the lower surface of the beam 47 to the upper surface of the plate 54 to bias the lever arm 51 downwardly toward the lower run of the endless belt 42. A presser roller 56 is pivotally mounted upon the lever arm 51 as through the provision of an additional threaded pivot pin 57 and the presser roller 56 engages the upper portion of the endless belt 42 to press the belt 42 into clamping relation with workpieces lying between the lower surface of the endless belt 42 and the upper surface of one of the webs 34 of the lower, main conveyor 39.

The upper clamping conveyor supporting pulleys 43 and 44 may be freely rotatably journaled in the brackets 45 and 46 in which case the endless belt 42 of the clamping conveyor will be driven through frictional engagement with the upper run of the lower, main conveyor 39 and the workpieces disposed upon such main conveyor. The clamping conveyor 41 maintains workpieces in their correct disposition upon the main conveyor 39 during operation of the sewing apparatus and in this way reduces the surveillance necessary by an operator of such sewing apparatus.

In an alternate embodiment, the upper clamping conveyor 41 may be positively driven through connection with the driving arrangement of the lower, main conveyor 39. One such alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIG- URES l2 and 13 wherein a driven gear 60 is affixed to the mounting shaft of the pulley 43 for positively driving the pulley 43 in response to movement of the lower conveyor 39. A pinion 61 is mounted upon the shaft 38 which supports the lower conveyor pulley 36 for rotation. As will be more fully discussed hereinafter, the shaft 38 is a positively driven shaft for imparting movement to the lower conveyor 39. Engagement of the pinion 61 with the gear 60 results in the positive driving of the upper clamping conveyor 41 in response to rotation of the shaft 38 and the gear ratio between the pinion 61 and the gear 60 should be chosen to compensate for the difference in diameter between the rollers or pulleys 43 and 36' such that the upper clamping conveyor belt 42 is driven in synchronization with the lower conveyor 39.

Disposed at the upstream end of the combined conveyor system 33 is a work loading platform 65 which is preferably fixedly attached, by any suitable means, to the table 32. The work loading platform 65 provides an upper work loading surface of generally L-shaped configuration including a transverse portion 66 and a longitudinally extending portion 67. The upper surfaces 66 and 67 of the work loading platform 65 present a convenient surface for utilization by the operator of the sewing apparatus in preparing and loading workpieces onto the conveyor 33. The generally longitudinally extending surface portion 67 may have affixed thereto an edge guide member 68 for determining the correct position of the edges of workpieces being loaded onto the conveyor 33. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the edge guide member 68 may be eliminated and a single line, scribed or otherwise provided upon the surface portion 67, may be employed in a fashion to be described more fully hereinafter. The sewing machine, generally referred to by the numeral 70 is mounted adjacent one side edge of the combined conveyor system 33 for the stitching of workpieces thereon. The sewing machine 70 may be any of a number of commercially available sewing machines. For example, the Union Special Class 39500 sewing machines are suitable for employment in this invention to produce over-edge chain stitches along one edge portion of the workpieces disposed upon the conveyor system 33.

A movable carriage, generally referred to by the numeral 71, supports the sewing machine 70 for movement in a direction parallel to the direction of fed of the conveyor system 33 and the movable carriage 71 includes an upper generally horizontally disposed sewing machine mounting platform 72 upon which is mounted, as by the mounting provisions 73, the sewing machine 70. A generally horizontally disposed lower platform 74 lies di rectly beneath the upper platform 72 and supports the upper platform 72 through the provision of suitable mounting members such as those shown at 75. Afiixed to the lower platform 74 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 are a number of roller mounting provisions which, conveniently, may include a number of angular brackets 79 affixed to each of the four corners of the platform 74 as illustrated by the fastener 76. Connected as at 77 to each of the angular brackets 79 is a generally upstanding roller support member 78. The roller support members 78 each have journaled therein a roller 80 which, in turn, is supported for rolling movement along a longitudinally disposed elongate track member 81. The track member 81 may be generally of an inverted U-shaped cross section as best seen in FIGURE 8 providing inwardly extending roller support flanges 82 in engagement with the rollers 80 on each side of the roller support member 78 for providing the surfaces along which the rollers 80 are to move. The elongate track members 81 lie parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor system 33 on each side of the lower platform 74 of the carriage 71. The track members 81 are supported upon the frame 31 by any suitable support means such as, for example, the support means 83 shown in the drawings. The elongate track members 81 support the carriage 71 and the sewing machine 70 for railway-type movement parallel to the direction of feed of the conveyor system 33.

A motive source including an electro-drive or transmitter, generally designated by the numeral 84, which provides motive power to the sewing machine 70 is mounted beneath the lower platform 74 of the carriage 71 for movement therewith. The electro-drive 84 may be any of a number of suitable commercially available units including clutch provisions 85, a clutch actuating lever 86, pivoted as at 87, and an output shaft 88. A first pulley 90 is mounted upon the output shaft 88 of the electrodrive unit and an input drive belt 91 extends upwardly into entrainment about a second pulley 92 mounted upon the drive shaft 93 of the sewing machine 70. Operation of the clutch provisions 85 in a manner to 'be set forth more fully hereinafter, during operation of the electro-drive 84, places the sewing machine 70 in operation for the stitching of workpieces.

Mounted upon the upper surface of the lower platform 74 of the movable carriage 71 is a speed reducing unit 94, best seen in FIGURE 10, having an input shaft 95 with a speed reducer'input shaft pulley 96 mounted thereon. The speed reducer 94 is driven via a further endless belt 97 entrained about the input shaft mounted pulley 96 and extending upwardly into entrainment with a further sewing machine drive shaft mounted pulley 98. Thus, the speed reduction unit 94 is positively driven from the driving provisions of the sewing machine 70. The speed reduction unit, which may include any of a number of suitable provisions for reducing the input speed supplied thereto and which may be selectively variable, includes an output shaft 101 extending outwardly therefrom toward the front of the over-all sewing apparatus 30. A generally vertically upstanding bracket plate 102 is aifixed to the upper surface of the lower platform 74 and such bracket plate 102 has mounted thereon bearing provisions 103 in which is journaled the output shaft 101 of the speed reduction unit 94. Affixed to the outermost end of the output shaft 101 is a sprocket 104. The sprocket 104, then, is mounted for rotation with respect to the carriage 71 and for movement therewith parallel to the feed direction of the conveyor system 33.

An elongate endless chain member 105 is entrained mto engagement with the sprocket 104 and further freely rotatable sprockets 106 and 107 are mounted for rotation upon the upstanding member 102 to insure positive engagement of the sprocket 104 with the chain 105. The

chain extends parallel to the feed direction of the sewing apparatus and is entrained about two chain support sprocket gears '108 and 109. The sprocket gear 108 is supported adjacent one end of the sewing apparatus 30 by a yoke-like adjustable support bracket 110 including a threaded generally horizontal stud 111 which extends away from the chain 105 and through a cross bar member of the frame 31. A nut 112 is threaded onto the stud 111 to maintain the bracket 110 in its proper position for the support of the chain 105 and for allowing the adjustment of the tensioning of the chain 105.

The chain supporting sprocket 109 is located at the opposite end of the sewing apparatus from the sprocket 108 and is fixedly attached to a transverse shaft '113 which shaft is journaled for rotation in suitable bearing provisions 114 afiixed to the interior faces of the two track members 81 as best seen in FIGURE 4.

A further chain drive sprocket 115 is affixed to the rotatable shaft 113 and a chain 116 engages the sprocket 115 and extends upwardly into entrainment with a conveyor drive sprocket 117 aifixed to the shaft 38 for driving the lower, main conveyor 39 in response to movement of the chain 105. Thus, any movement imparted to the chain 105 is transmitted via the shift 113 and the chain '116 to the conveyor mounting shaft 38.

A second motive source including a second electrodrive or transmitter 120 is provided for imparting movement to the carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 parallel and in direction of feed. The transmitter 120 is stationary with respect to the sewing apparatus and is mounted at one end thereof upon a transmitter mounting platform 121 by mounting provisions similar to those employed in mounting transmitter 84 to the underside of the lower platform 74. The transmitter 120, like the previously mentioned transmitter 84 may be any of a number of commercially available electro-drive or transmitter units including clutch provisions 122, a clutch actuating lever 123 pivoted as at 124 for effecting engagement and disengagement of the clutch provisions 122. An output shaft 125 has mounted thereon an output shaft pulley 126 and an endless belt 127 extends between the pulley 126 and a further pulley 128 mounted upon an input shaft 130 of a variable speed reducer unit 131 which is fixedly attached to the platform 121. The speed reducer unit 131 may be any of a number of suitable units capable of a reduction in the speed applied to the input shaft thereof and such speed reducer unit includes a control lever 132 for effecting manual control of the speed reduction provided by the speed reducer 131. An output shaft 133 extends outwardly from the speed reducer and has afiixed thereto an output pulley 134. An additional endless driving belt 135 extends between the output pulley 134 and an additional driven pulley 136 mounted upon a shaft 137 supported at each end thereof for rotation as by the employment of suitable bearing means 138 affixed to one upright portion of the frame 31 and bearing means 140 mounted upon a generally downwardly extending mounting bracket -141. A further pulley 142 is aifixed to the shaft 137 for rotation therewith and an endless belt 143 is entrained about the pulley 142 and extends along the full length of the sewing apparatus and into entrainment with a further pulley 144 mounted at the opposite end of the sewing apparatus from the shaft 137 as best seen in FIGURES 1, 3 and 5. Actuation of the electro-drive or transmitter 120 and engagement of the clutch provisions 122 impart movement to the belt 143 such that the upper run thereof moves downstream with respect to the direction of feed of the conveyor 33. I

It is the downstream movement of the upper run of the belt 143 which imparts movement to the carriage 71 and the sewing machine 70 such that the carriage and sewing machine may be moved downstream away from the loading end of the conveyor and the conveyor operator. Mounted upon the lower platform 74 of the sewing machine mounting carriage 71 is a belt grasping means,

generally referred to by the numeral 145 and best seen in FIGURES 5, 14 and 15. The belt grasping means 145 is positioned adjacent the upper run of the carriage drive belt 143 as by the provision of suitable mounting means such as the angle iron 146 and the spacer block 147 shown in FIGURE 15. A generally vertically disposed clamp plate 148 is affixed to the spacer block 147 and includes an outwardly directed generally horizontal extension portion 150 overlying the upper run of the belt 143. A portion of the undersurface of the outwardly extending portion 150 is provided with teeth 151 disposed directly above and in close proximity to the upper run of the belt 143. The toothed portion 150 provides an immovable first jaw for grasping one side of the belt 143, while a movable second jaw member 152 is pivotally connected to the plate 148 as by mounting upon the stud 153. The movable jaw 152 is provided with a toothed portion 154 disposed directly beneath the upper run of the belt 143 for engagement therewith upon pivoting of the jaw 152 counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 14. A fluid actuated cylinder 155 is affixed to the plate 148 as at 156 and a piston rod 157 of the fluid actuated cylinder 155 is arranged in operative engagement with the pivotal jaw 152 as by the provision of the connecting link 158 extending from the end portion of the piston rod 157 and pivotally connected to the jaw 152 at pivot pin 160. The fluid actuated cylinder 155 is in communication with a fluid actuating control system to be described more fully hereinafter and the application of fluid pressure to the cylinder 155 via a fluid line 161 results in the pivoting of the movable jaw 152 such that the upper run of the belt 143 is firmly grasped between the two jaws 150 and 152. Thus, actuation of the cylinder 155 results in the driving of the sewing machine mounting carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 in railway-type fashion along the length of the conveyor 33 parallel to and in the direction of feed of such conveyor.

An alternate embodiment of the invention, employing alternate provisions for imparting movement to the carriage 70 and the sewing machine 71 is illustrated in FIG- URE wherein like numerals are applied to apparatus essentially the same as previously described. The carriage movement imparting transmitter 120 and the variable speed reducing unit 131 are connected essentially as set forth hereinbefore and the lower, main conveyor 39 is driven via the chain 116 as set forth hereinbefore. However, an extended shaft 165 extends transversely from a bearing provision 163, fixedly attached to the frame 31 as seen in FIGURE 20, to a further bearing provision 164 mounted upon the track member 81. The conveyor chain drive sprocket 115 is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 165 as is the sprocket 109 about which is entrained the longitudinally running chain 105 which engages the carriage mounted sprocket 104 previously described and shown best in FIGURES 10 and 11. The pulley 134 mounted upon the output shaft 133 of the speed reduction unit 131 drives the endless belt 135 in response to actuation of the electro-drive 120 and engagement of the clutch provisions 122. The belt 135, however, is entrained into driving relation with a one-way clutch mechanism 166 mounted upon the shaft 165. The one-way clutch mechanism may be any suitable commercially available one-way clutch having a belt accommodating portion 167 and a shaft-mountable portion 168. The one-way clutch 166 engages in response to relative movement in one direction only between the belt accommodating portion 167 and the shaft mounted portion 168. That is, if the shaft mounted portion 168 is rotating at a given speed and the belt accommodating portion 167 is stationary or rotating at a speed less than the speed of rotation of the portion 168, no engagement of the clutch between the two portions 167 and 168 will be effected. However, if the speed of rotation of the belt accommodating portion 167 is increased beyond the initial speed of rotation of the shaft 165 and portion 168, the one-way clutch will engage to effect an increase in speed in the clutch portion 168 and the rotatable shaft 165. Accordingly, actuation of the transmitter is capable of effecting an increase in the speed of movement of the longitudinally disposed chain 105.

Inasmuch as the longitudinally disposed chain 105 is normally driven via the carriage mounted sprocket 104 through the connection of that sprocket with the carriage mounted electro-drive or transmitter 84, any increase in speed imparted to the chain 105 results in movement of the carriage 71 and the sewing machine 70 parallel to and in the direction of feed of the conveyor 33. That is, the transmitter 84 drives the output shaft 101 of the speed reducer 94 and the sprocket 104 afiixed to such output shaft at a particular speed which determines the speed of movement of the chain 105. Any increase in the speed of movement of the chain 105 results in the application of a pulling force to the carriage 71 via the sprocket 104 and the shaft 101 inasmuch as the shaft 101 is not rotating quickly enough to keep-up with the speed of movement of the chain 105. Additionally, any increase in speed imparted to the shaft and the longitudinally disposed chain 105 results in an increase in the speed imparted to the main conveyor 39 via the chain drive including the sprockets 115, 117 and the chain 116.

Similarly, it is to be noted that actuation of the clamping device 145 shown in FIGURES 5 and 14 also results in an increase in the speed of movement of the main conveyor 39. Upon actuation of the clamping device 145 the carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 are impelled downstream and such downstream movement results in an increase in the speed of movement of the longitudinally disposed chain 105 as imparted thereto via the chain engaging sprocket 104 mounted upon the carriage 71. Thus, if the sprocket 104 is being driven at a predetermined speed by the transmitter 84, the chain 105 will move at a rate of speed determined by the rotation of the sprocket 104. However, if the sprocket 104 is moved longitudinally as by the movement of the carriage 71, the speed of movement of the chain 105 will be increased and, thus the chain 105 will increase the speed of rotation of the shaft 113 shown in FIGURE 4 to drive the lower conveyor 39 at an increased speed via the chain drive including the sprockets 115, 117 and the chain 116.

The shaft 113, employed in the embodiment best seen in FIGURE 4, which is rotatable to drive the lower, main conveyor 39 has fixedly mounted thereon for rotation therewith a brake wheel 170. A fluid actuated cylinder 171 is mounted above the brake wheel and has affixed to the depending piston rod 172 thereof a brake shoe 173 movable into braking engagement with the brake wheel 170 upon actuation of the cylinder 171. Braking engagement of the brake shoe 173 and the brake wheel 170 halts rotation of the shaft 113 and maintains such shaft against rotation until such time as the piston rod 172 and the brake shoe 173 are retracted. Such halting of the shaft 113 prevents further movement of the lower, main conveyor 39 and maintains the elongate longitudinal chain 105 against movement. Actuation of the fluid actuated cylinder 171 is controlled in a manner to be set forth more fully hereinafter such that the elongate chain 105 may 'be maintained against movement when the sewing machine mounting carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 are spaced downstream from their upstream limit of travel. When this occurs, the rotation of the carriage mounted sprocket 104, driven from the electro-drive 84, results in movement of the carriage 71 and the sewing machine 70 in an upstream direction through the engagement of the sprocket 104 with the now immovable chain 105. That is, the chain 105 acts in the capacity of a gear rack along which the sprocket 104 rolls through its engagement with the chain to drive the carriage bodily upstream.

Similarly, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 20 employing the one-way clutch 166, braking provisions 1 1 are provided in association with the shaft 165 and like provisions are given like reference numerals. It will, of course, be apparent that braking of the shaft 165 effects the cessation of movement of the conveyor 39 and, again, results in the movement of the carriage 71 in the upstream direction exactly as set forth hereinbefore.

It is to be noted that the movement of the sewing machine 70 in the upstream direction relative to the direction of feed results in the stitching of workpieces already positioned upon the conveyor system 33 inasmuch as the sewing machine 70 is being operated through the actuation of the transmitter or electro-drive 84. Further, it is to be noted that such upstream movement of the sewing machine 70 occurs at a rate of speed equal to the initial rate of speed of the lower, main conveyor 39 past the sewing machine 70 when the sewing machine 70 is in its initial position provided no alteration has been made in the driving speed of the transmitter 84. Thus, the transmitter 84 serves to impart relative motion between the conveyor system 33 and the sewing machine and the speed of such relative motion is determined by the driving speed of the transmitter 84 regardless of whether the sewing machine is maintained stationary, moved in the downstream direction or returned in the upstream direction. If the speed of movement of the lower conveyor 39 relative to the sewing machine is synchronized, as it should be, with the conventional feed provisions which commonly form a part of commercially available sewing machines, the relative movement imparted between the workpieces to be stitched and the sewing machine will, at all times, be essentially equal to the feed rate of the sewing machine 70. The sewing machine feed provisions which commonly form a part of commercially "available sewing machines may include one or more feed dogs 174 as shown in FIGURE 17 and the syn chronization with the feeding means of the sewing machine 70 is effected through the speed reduction unit 94 which relates the operating speed of the sewing machine to the chain drive provisions including the elongate chain member 105. Once the correct speed reduction has been provided, any relative movement between the sewing machine 70 and the chain drive including the chain 105 will result in a feed-synchronized speed of movement between the conveyor 39 and the sewing machine 70.

The utilization of workpiece guiding and handling provisions for insuring proper alignment of edge portions of the workpieces with the sewing machine 70 further reduces the amount of surveillance required of the operator of the sewing apparatus 30. In one embodiment of thi invention, the loading of workpieces onto the upper run of the endless belts or webs 34 is facilitated through the provision of a further upper clamping conveyor, generally referred to by the numeral 176 and best seen in FIGURES 21 and 22. An extended shaft 177 which is journaled for rotation in the bracket 46 and which has mounted thereon the upper conveyor pulley 44 extends toward that side of the conveyor 39 corresponding to the mounting of the sewing machine 70. A pulley 178 is mounted upon the extension of shaft 177 and a second clamping conveyor belt 180 is engaged therewith and entrained into engagement with a further pulley 181 mounted for rotation by the yoke-like bracket 182 which overlies the longitudinal extension 67 of the loading platform 65. The diameters of the pulleys 44 and 178 are preferably identical such that the second clamping conveyor belt 180 is driven at a speed identical to the speed of movement of the first mentioned upper clamping conveyor 42 and the upper run of the main conveyor 39. The workpiece guiding secondary conveyor 176 lies upon the same longitudinal line as the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine 70 and a portion of the workpiece guiding conveyor 176 overlies the longitudinal extension 67 of the work loading platform 65. Thus, once the workpieces have been prepared for stitching, the operator need only align the edge portions thereof with the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine and insert such workpieces between the lower run of the guiding conveyor 176 and the upper surface of the longitudinal platform extension 67 whereupon the movement of the conveyor 176 will correctly load the workpieces onto the upper run of the main conveyor 39 for the stitching thereof.

In an alternative arrangement, best seen in FIGURES 23 and 24, a solitary work guiding roller 183 is mounted upon the extension of the shaft 177 and, like the workpiece guiding conveyor 176, the roller 183 overlies the longitudinal platform extension 67 to positively move the workpieces from the platform onto the upper run of the lower conveyor 39 in response to driving movement imparted to the roller 183 via the shaft 177.

Again, it will be noted that a workpiece guide member may be provided upon the workpiece loading platform 65 or, in the alternative, a line 184, best seen in FIGURE 22, may be scribed or otherwise provided upon the platform 65 to indicate the correct disposition of workpieces with respect to the stitching zone of the sewing machine as will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

Further positive guiding of the workpieces into the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70 such that the edge of each workpiece is continuously, correctly aligned for the stitching thereof, even in the presence of moderately curved edges, may be provided through the inclusion of the further workpiece guiding provisions generally referred to by the numeral 185 and best seen in FIG- URES 17, 18 and 19. The workpiece guiding provisions 185 include a stripper 186, a workpiece edge guide mem ber 187 and a rotary brush device 188.

The edge guide member 187 includes a generally horizontally disposed plate-like portion 189 which is affixedly attached to the upper surface 190 of a plate-like table 191 mounted for movement with the sewing machine 70. The mounting provisions of the guide member 187 should allow for the adjustment of the position of that member in a transverse direction relative to the direction of feed as by the provision of the slots 192 through which the fasteners 193 extend. The plate-like portion 189 of the guide member 187 includes a generally downstream protruding extension member 194. A generally angularly disposed vertically upstanding portion 195 is provided and the lateral position of the member 187 is adjusted such that a surface 196 of the generally vertically upstanding member 195 lies parallel to the direction of feed and in exact alignment with the correct extension of the edge of the workpiece to be sewn. Thus, the lateral extension of workpiece edges is limited by the surface 196 such that movement of the workpiece edges along the surface 196 results in precisely correct feeding of such edges into the stitch forming zone of the sewing machine for the stitching thereof.

The stripper 186 includes a lower sole plate 197 having an angularly disposed edge 198 complementary to the upstanding portion 195 of the edge guide member 187. A pair of upstanding mounts 200 are affixed to the sole plate 197 and journaled therebetween is a pivot pin 201. The pivot pin 201 is fixedly attached to a downwardly projecting piston shaft 202 of a vertically positioned fluid actuated cylinder 203, best seen in FIGURES 5 and 16. A torsion spring 204 is affixed to the pivot pin 201 and extends into biasing engagement with one of the mounts 200 to bias the sole plate 197 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 19. Thus, movement of the piston shaft 202 and the pivot pin 201 upwardly results in limited pivoting of the sole plate 197.

The generally upstanding portion 195 of the guide member 187 is provided with a number of pin receiving slots 205 and a series of sole plate mounted pins 206 extend generally horizontally from the edge 198 of the sole plate 197 into the slots 205. The stripper 186 limits the upward extension of workpieces passing between the sole plate 197 and the surface 190 and, thus, eliminates bunching or folding of such workpieces. Further, the protrusion of the pins 206 into the slots 205 prevents 13 workpiece edges from climbing the surface of the upstanding wall 195 during their guided movement along the surface of such wall.

The rotary brush member 188 includes a generally cylindrical roll 207 from the surface of which protrude a number of bristle groups 208. The cylindrical roll 207 is fixedly attached to a shaft 209 journaled for rotational movement in the depending arms of an inverted U-shaped mounting bracket 210. The mounting bracket 210 is fixedly connected to a depending piston shaft 211 of a further fluid actuated cylinder 212 best seen in FIGURES and 16. Rotary movement is supplied to the brush member 188 via a flexible drive shaft 213 which is aflixed to the shaft 209 and which is supported by suitable provisions such as the brace 219 connected to the sewing machine 70 and the bracket 215 which mounts the flexible shaft 213 to the brace 219. The flexible shaft 213 is in communication with a small electro-motor 214 (FIGURE 16) which may be any of a number of commercially available units and which preferably supplies a rotary speed of approximately 250 rpm. The stripper mounting fluid actuated cylinder 203 and the rotary brush mounting fluid actuated cylinder 212 are operable in unison, in a fashion to be set forth more fully hereinafter, to move the sole plate 197 and the rotary brush device 188 downwardly in response to the entrance of a workpiece into proximity with the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70-. The downward movement of the rotary brush device 188 is limited such that a light brushing force is applied to workpieces passing thereunder and, preferably, the bristles of the bristle groups 208 are relatively soft.

It will be noted that the brush member 188 is angularly aligned with respect to the direction of feed of the sewing apparatus 30 and preferably, the axis about which the roll 207 rotates is at an angle of approximately 30 with respect to the direction of feed of the conveyor system 33. The rotational movement supplied to the cylindrical roll 207 is in opposition to the feed of the sewing ap paratus and, thus, the brushing force applied to workpieces in transit past the bristle groups 208 is partially in opposition to the direction of movement of the workpieces and is partially transverse to such movement. That is, the brushing force applied to the workpieces may be broken into two components; one lying opposite the direction of feed of the conveyor 33 and the other lying transverse to such direction of feed and extending toward the sewing machine side of such conveyor.

The brushing force applied to workpieces in transit past the brush device 188 results in the smoothing of such workpieces and the constant maintaining of each portion of the edges of the workpieces in affirmative contact with the guide member 187. Even when the edges of the workpieces exhibit moderate curvatures, the rotary brush device 188 continuously aligns the workpieces such that the moderately curved edge portions thereof are fed into contact with the upstanding wall portion 195 of the edge guide member 187 and the workpiece edges, then, are fed into the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70 upon alignment by the surface 196 of the edge guide member 187.

In feeding workpieces onto the upper run of the main conveyor 39, sufiicient material must be placed to the sewing machine side of the clamping conveyor belt 42 such that the edge of the workpiece extends at least to the longitudinal line upon which the surface 196 of the edge guide member 187 is disposed. Thus, the platform mounted edge guide 68 should be positioned accordingly and, in fact, the longitudinally extending line 184 shown in FIGURE 22 may easily be employed in the stitching of workpieces having moderately curved edge portions. Thus, in feeding workpieces having moderately curved edge portions, the operator need only assure that the entirety of the moderately curved edge lies to the sewing machine side of the line 184.

The over-all operation of the sewing apparatus 30 will be more clearly understood with reference to FIGURE 16 which shows suitable control provisions for controlling such over-all operation. The transmitter or electro-drive 84 which controls the speed of operation of the sewing machine 70 as well as the speed of relative movement between the sewing machine and the conveyor 33, and the transmitter or electro-drive 120 which is employed to bodily move the sewing machine 70 in the direction of feed may be energized from suitable electrical power sources such as, for example, the three phase, 220 volt, 60 cycle sources 220 and 221 shown in FIGURE 16. It will be realized, of course, that it is the electrical requirements of the transmitters 84 and 120 which determine the suitability of any particular electrical power source for energizing such transmitters. The electro-drive 84 is energized from the power source 220 via the switch provisions 222 and the protective fuses 223. Similarly, the transmitter 120 is energized from the source 221 via the switch means 224 and suitable protective fuses 225. The switching means 222 and 224 may be conveniently located as shown in FIGURE 3 for operation by the operator.

Once energized, the electro-drive 84 may be coupled into driving relation with the sewing machine 70 and the rotatable carriage mounted sprocket 104 through engagement of the clutch provisions 85. The clutch actuating arm 86 is pivotable to actuate the clutch under the influence of a fluid actuated cylinder 226 having a piston rod 227 connected as at 228 to the pivotable arm. Fluid, preferably air, suitable for actuating the cylinder 226 is supplied from a source (not shown) to a line 230 which includes a suitable pressure lubricator and air cleaner combination such as that generally referred to by the numeral 231. The line 230 terminates in a manifold 232 having air output ports 233 through 238 for com-.-

munication with further lines employed in controlling the operation of the sewing apparatus.

When the carriage 71 and the sewing machine 70 are disposed at their extreme upstream limit of travel, compressed air may be supplied to the fluid actuated cylinder 226 via the manifold port 236, an air line 240, a pressure control valve 241, a normally open four-way valve 242, and a further air line 243 connected to the input port of the fluid actuated cylinder 226. The pressure control valve 241 is fixedly attached to a portion of the frame 31, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, adjacent a first cam 244 which is fixedly mounted upon a rotatable shaft 245. The shaft 245 is supported for rotation between leg portions of the frame 31 as through the utilization of the brackets 246 at each end of the shaft. Angular movement is imparted to the cam 244 through manipulation of a treadle 249 fixedly attached to the rotatable shaft 245 to control the pressure applied to the clutch actuating cylinder 226. Thus, when the sewing machine 70 is disposed at its extreme upstream limit of travel, the operator may control the stitching speed of such sewing machine and, as has been set forth hereinbefore, the stitching speed of the sewing machine 70 controls the rate of movement of the lower, main conveyor 39.

Once energized, the second transmitter is placed in driving relation with the longitudinally disposed carriage driving belt 143 through engagement of the clutch provisions 122 of the transmitter 120. Such engagement of the clutch provisions 122 is effected through a pivoting of the clutch arm 123 in response to actuation of a further fluid actuated cylinder 247 having a piston shaft 248 pivotally connected to the arm 123 as at 250. Fluid pressure suitable for actuating the cylinder 247 may be supplied from a suitable air source (not shown) connected to a line 251 which, like the line 230, includes an air lubrication and filtration combination 252. The line 251 communicates with the further clutch actuating cylinder 247-via a four-way valve 253 and a line 254 in which is situated a second pressure control valve 25g. Like the pressure control valve 241, the valve 255 is mounted upon a portion of the frame 31, as best seen in FIGURE 3, in cooperation with a second valve actuating cam 256 mounted for angular movement in response to limited rotation of the shaft 245. The shaft mounted cams 244 and 256 are angularly displaced such that actuation of the first mentioned pressure control valve 241 occurs prior to actuation of the further pressure control valve 255 situated in air line 254.

Once the angularly movable cam 244 has been moved a predetermined amount to cause the electro-drive 84 to drive the sewing machine 70 at a predetermined stitching speed, the second angularly movable cam 256 actuates the pressure control valve 255 to effect clutch engagement between the electro-drive 120 and the longitudinally disposed carriage driving belt 143.

Two trigger arm air valves 257, 258 are arranged adjacent the clutch control arm 123 as best seen in FIGURE 4 for actuation upon movement of the arm 123. Thus, actuation of the pressure control valve 255 results in the pivoting of the arm 123 into the clutch-actuated position and, further results in the release of the trigger arm of the normally opened trigger arm actuated valve 257 to place the grasping device actuating cylinder 155 in fluid communication with the air input line 251 via the four-way valve 253 and the lines 254 and 161 which are interconnected by the trigger arm actuated valve 257. Actuation of the fluid actuated cylinder 155 via the release of the trigger arm of the valve 257 results in closure of the belt grasping device 145 into clamping engagement wiht the longitudinal carriage-drive belt 143 and, at this point, the sewing machine 70 begins movement in the downstream direction thereby automatically effecting an increase in the speed of movement of the main conveyor 39 as set forth hereinbefore.

Mounted upon the upper platform 72 of the movable carriage 71 is an outwardly extending arm 261 best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. While the carriage 71 is disposed at its extreme upstream limit of travel, the arm 261 engages the trigger arm of an additional trigger arm actuated valve 262 to place that valve in a closed condition. Movement of the actuating arm 261 away from engagement with the trigger arm of the valve 262 effects communication of the output port 237 of the manifold 232 with the input to the clutch actuating cylinder 226 of the transmitter 84 to effect full engagement of the clutch provisions 85 of such transmitter. A line 263 interconnects the manifold port 237 and the trigger arm valve 262 and a further line 264 interconnects the valve 262 and the line 243 via a one-way valve 265. It will be seen, then, that once the carriage 70 begins to move in a downstream direction, the initial control valve 241 is by-passed through the opening of the trigger arm actuated valve 262 and the operator of the sewing apparatus no longer maintains control of the stitching speed of the sewing machine 71. Additionally, the pressure control valve 241 is rendered ineffectual through a closure of the four-way valve 242 as by the application of air pressure thereto via the line 269.

While opening of the trigger arm actuated valve 262 increases the air pressure in a line 266 in communication with the normally closed clutch arm actuated valve 258, the brake actuating cylinder 171 will not effectuate engagement of the brake shoe 173 and the brake wheel 170 inasmuch as the clutch arm actuated valve 258 has been closed through the pivoting of the clutch arm 123. As the carriage 71 approaches its downstream limit of travel, a trip arm 267, located upon the downstream edge of the upper carriage platform 72, as best seen in FIGURE 2, engages the extreme end of a shock absorber piston rod 268 of a shock absorber 270 mounted upon the frame 31 in alignment with the trip arm 267. The shock absorber 270 is in fluid communication with the manifold output port 233 via a one-way valve 271. The shock absorber 270 reduces the speed of movement of the carriage 71 as such carriage approaches its downstream limit of travel and the trip arm 267 engages the trigger arm of yet another trigger arm actuated control valve 272 mounted upon a portion of the frame 31. Engagement of the trip arm 267 with the trigger arm of the valve 272 closes the four-way valve 253 via the manifold output port 235, a line 273 and a further line 274 interconnecting the trigger arm actuated valve 272 and a control port of the four-way valve 253. The high pressure air in line 254 will be exhausted through an exhaust port in valve 253 as it is understood that all adjustable valves employed in the here described arrangement are equipped with the usual exhaust ports for discharging the remaining high pressure air out of disconnected lines.

Once the four-way valve 253 is closed, air pressure will not be available in the branched line 254 and, thus, the clutch provisions 122 of the transmitter will be disengaged as will be the belt grasping apparatus 145. Furthermore, return movement of the clutch actuating arm 123 through the decrease in pressure within the cylinder 247 opens the normally closed trigger arm actuated valve 258 to eflect actuation of the brake cylinder 171 to halt movement of the shaft 113 and maintain the main conveyor 39 against further movement. The carriage 71 will automatically begin movement upstream along the now stationary conveyor 39 through the engagement of the sprocket 104 with the longitudinally extending chain 105.

During the initial movement of the carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 in the upstream direction, the operator has no control over such movement inasmuch as the fourway valve 253 remains in its closed position precluding the flow of high pressure air to the forked line 254 such as is necessary to engagement of the clutch provisions 122 of the electro-dn've 120. However, at a predetermined point in its upstream movement, the outwardly extending arm 261 aflflxed to the upper carriage platform 72 engages the trigger arm of a trigger arm actuated valve 275 and, again, the four-way valve 253 is opened through the connection of a control port thereof with the manifold output port 238 via a pair of lines 276 and 277 which are now placed in fluid communication by the trigger arm actuated valve 275. Once the four-way valve 253 is placed in its open condition, the operator may effect a reversal of the movement of the carriage 71 through an opening of the pressure control valve 255 as set forth hereinabove. Accordingly, it will be seen that the operator may reverse the movement of the carriage 71 at any time after the carriage mounted arm 261 has passed the trigger arm actuated valve 265.

In the further embodiment of the invention employing the one-way clutch 166 shown in FIGURE 20, the fluid control provisions thus far described may be altered as shown in FIGURE 16 a. In FIGURE 16a control provisions like the control provisions shown in FIGURE 16 are given like reference numerals and, it will be understood, those provisions not shown are connected as shown in FIGURE 16. In the alternate arrangement shown in FIGURE 16a, it will be noted all of the control provisions associated with the belt grasping means 145, as

shown in FIGURE 16, have been deleted. The employment of the one-way clutch 166 eliminates the necessity of using the belt grasping means and, when the sewing machine mounting carriage 71 is in its initial extreme upstream position, angular displacement of the cam member 256 via the treadle 249, shown in FIGURE 3, results in the extension of the piston shaft 248 of the fluid ac tuated cylinder 247 through the supply of increased air pressure to the cylinder 247 from the line 251, the fourway valve 253 and the cylinder-connected line 254. The rotational output speed of the clutch provisions 122 of the electro-drive 120 is dependent upon the degree of angular displacement of the cam 256 and once the rotational output speed of the clutch provisions 122 is increased such that the speed of rotation of the belt accommodating portion 167 of the one-way clutch 166, shown in FIGURE 20, exceeds the speed of rotation normally imparted to the shaft through its connection with the elongate chain 105, the speed of rotation of the shaft 165 will be increased through engagement of the one-way clutch 166. The main conveyor 39 will, accordingly, be imparted a greater speed in the direction of feed and, as previously set forth, the carriage 71 will be driven in a downstream direction through its interconnection with the elongate chain 105 and the carriage-mounted sprocket 104. As previously described with respect to FIGURE 16, the carriage mounted valve actuating arm261 will be removed from engagement with the trigger arm of the trigger arm actuated valve 262. At this point the stitching speed of the sewing machine 70 will have increased to a predetermined maximum at which it will be held during the remainder of the sewing machine travel, downstream or upstream.

Upon movement of the carriage 71 to its downstream limit of travel, the trigger arm actuated valve 272 which controls the four-way valve 253 will be placed in an open condition closing valve 253 with a resultant disengagement of the clutch provisions 122 of the electro-drive 120'. Movement of the clutch actuating arm 123 effects the opening of the further trigger arm actuated valve 258 to place the brake shoe 173 in braking engagement with the brake wheel 170 mounted upon the shaft 165. Again, rotation of the shaft 165 is precluded and the elongate chain 105 is rendered immobile such that the carriage 71 and sewing machine 70 are driven upstream through the rack-like engagement of the sprocket 104 with the now-immobile chain 105.

Again, actuation of the intermediately located trigger arm actuated valve 275 results in the opening of the fourway valve 253 to allow the operator to control the clutch provisions 122 of the electro-drive 120 via the angularly movable cam member 256. Movement of the valve actuating cam 256 opens valve 255 causing the clutch arm 123 to be actuated in the known manner. Actuation of the clutch arm 123, of course, results in the closure of the trigger arm actuated valve 258 to remove the brake shoe 173 from braking engagement with the brake wheel 170 mounted upon the rotatable shaft 165.

It will, of course, be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that electrical control means may be employed to effect the controlling of the operation of the sewing apparatus 30 as set forth hereinafter. Thus, relay-employing control circuitry or solid-state device employing circuitry may be utilized in substitution for the various fluid operated control provisions shown in FIGURES 16 and 160: without departure from the inventive concept embodied herein.

Returning to FIGURE 16, it will be noted that further edge guide control provisions, generally referred to by the numeral 280 are shown for automatically controlling the operation of the edge guiding apparatus 185. The motor 214 coupled to the rotary brush member 188 may be supplied from any suitable electrical source as determined by the electrical characteristics of the motor 214. For example a l-volt, 60-cyc1e A.C. source 281 may be connected to the motor 214 via an operator-controlled switch 282 suitably mounted, as shown in FIGURE 3, for manual control by the sewing apparatus operator. A photoelectric scanner combination 283 may be connected to the AC. source 281 via the switch 272. The scanner 283 includes a light source 284 and a photoelectric cell 285 mounted adjacent the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70 as seen in FIGURES 1 and 5. The light source 284 and photoelectric cell 285 may be mounted in any suitable manner such that entrance of a workpiece into proximity with the stitching zone of the sewing machine cuts the light path which normally extends from the source 284 to the photoelectric cell 285. The photoelectric scanner 283 may be any of a number of suitable or commercially available scanners such as, for example, the type PE-3 scanner available from the Farmer Electric Products Company. A relay 286 is connected to the output of the scanner 283 and includes a coil 287 for actuating a switch 288. The switch 288 is operative to interconnect the AC. source 281 with a coil 290 of an electrically operated normally open valve 291. The valve 291 is located in an air line 292 which interconnects the further output port 234 of the manifold 232 and the input ports of the fluid actuated cylinders 203 and 212 which control the vertical movement of the stripper 186 and rotary brush member 188, respectively. The line 292 is further connected to the input port of an additional fluid actuated cylinder 293 mounted as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 20 and having a piston rod 294, the movement of which controls the presser foot actuating mechanism of the sewing machine 70 including the presser foot actuating lever 295. Downward movement of the piston rod 294 of the fluid actuated cylinder 293 results in the upward movement of the sewing machine included presser foot from its normally downwardly disposed position.

Upon the entrance of a workpiece into proximity with the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70, the light path which normally extends from the light source 284 to the photoelectric cell 285 is broken. The photoelectric scanner 283 energizes the relay coil 287 to energize the coil 290 via the switch 288. Energization of the coil 290 results in a closing of the normally open valve 291. Fluid communication with the fluid actuated cylinder 293 is broken and the sewing machine included presser foot moves downwardly into its operative position. Similarly, fluid communication with the fluid actuated cylinders 203 and 212 is broken upon the closure of the valve 291 and the stripper member 186 and rotary brush device 5118 descend into engagement with the workpiece to guide such workpiece accurately into the stitching zone of the sewing machine 70. Passage of the workpiece from below the light source 284 results in a completion of the light path from the source 284 to the photoelectric cell 285 and the electrically operated valve 291 resumes its normally open position to place the fluid actuated cylinders 203, 212 and 293 in fluid communication with the manifold output port 234. Thus, passage of a workpiece from its position proximate to the stitching zone of the sewing machine results in a lifting of the sewing machine included presser foot as well as a lifting of the stripper member 186 and the rotary brush member 188.

Again it will be noted that control provisions other than those shown in FIGURE 16 may be employed to control the operation of the presser foot, stripper member and rotary brush device such as, for example, by the utilization of suitable relay circuitry or solid-state circuitry. Again, the employment of such alternative control provisions fall within the scope of the present invention.

It is, of course, well within the inventive concept embodied herein to employ additional control means such that stitching operation of the sewing machine is effected only upon lowering of the sewing machine included presser foot as by the actuation of the lever 295. For example, an electrically operated clutch (not shown) could be provided between the drive shaft 93 of the sewing machine and the driven pulley 92 for engagement only upon lowering of the sewing machine included presser foot.

As a result of the employment of the automatically controlled sewing apparatus 30 described hereinbefore, multi-layer workpieces may be prepared by an operator and fed into the sewing apparatus at a rate of speed greater than the linear stitching speed of the sewing machine. Bodily movement of the sewing machine 70 may be controlled to determine the rate of feed of workpieces fromthe workpiece loading platform into the conveyor system 33 and to allow movement of the sewing machine in stitching relation to the workpiece already correctly positioned in the conveyor system 33 while additional workpieces are being prepared for feeding into the sewing apparatus. Further, the sewing machine may be continuously operated at a predetermined maximum stitching speed and bodily movement of such sewing machine may be controlled until the sewing machine has moved fully 

